New Delhi, 6 May 

Bengaluru will not host the IPL 2026 final, with the BCCI shifting the marquee clash to Ahmedabad, citing requirements from local authorities that fell outside its established guidelines.

The final, originally slated for the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, will now be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May.

"Owing to certain requirements from the local association and authorities that were beyond the scope of BCCI's established guidelines and protocols, the venue has been shifted and reassigned," the Board said in a statement.

While the BCCI did not specify the exact reasons, sources indicated that recent developments in Karnataka, including controversy over ticket allocation for MLAs and MPs, contributed to the decision. The relatively smaller capacity of the Bengaluru venue—around 35,000—was also seen as a limiting factor compared to Ahmedabad’s significantly larger stadium.

Traditionally, the IPL final is hosted by the defending champions, which in this case is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, the shift means RCB will not have home advantage even if they qualify for the title clash.

The BCCI also announced a revised playoff schedule, spreading matches across three venues this season due to “operational and logistical considerations.”

Qualifier 1 will be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26, marking the venue’s first time hosting an IPL playoff. The Eliminator on May 27 and Qualifier 2 on May 29 will take place at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.

The season will culminate with the final in Ahmedabad, which has hosted the IPL finale multiple times in recent years.